Copy Editing

Precision, Clarity, and Readability for Your Book

A comprehensive, tactical review that strengthens readability, corrects errors, and elevates your manuscript to industry standards.

  • New York Times Bestseller!

I get it…

Editing software and lower-level editors can catch surface errors, but they won’t spot the underlying issues that undermine your book’s professionalism.

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Without an industry-expert edit, your manuscript may follow the “rules” but still miss the polish and flow that make it truly publication-ready.

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Readers, agents, and publishers quickly lose confidence in a book riddled with distracting mistakes or awkward phrasing.

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You’ve worked too hard to let your credibility suffer because the fine details weren’t elevated to industry standards.

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You can write a book you’re incredibly proud of.

You just need someone with industry experience and a passion for helping people tell their stories.

Copy editing perfects your manuscript by refining language, polishing clarity, and ensuring adherence to industry standards. Instead of letting errors or inconsistencies distract readers, you’ll receive a thorough, line-by-line review that strengthens readability, flow, and professionalism.

From grammar, syntax, and style consistency to sentence-level clarity, this process elevates your writing so your ideas are communicated flawlessly. With expert guidance, your manuscript will not only be technically sound but also more enjoyable and compelling to read.

The result is a polished, publication-ready manuscript that reflects the quality and authority your work deserves.

My copy editing approach ensures every word is polished, precise, and publication-ready.

It refines grammar, syntax, clarity, and style to create a polished, professional manuscript that is ready for publication.

Copy Editing Includes

  • Discovery Call

    This call is more than just logistics and scheduling; it’s where I get to know you, your goals, your challenges, and your publishing dreams, so the edit is deeply aligned with your vision.

  • Polished Manuscript

    A meticulous line-by-line edit refining grammar, syntax, style, and clarity, delivering a professional, publication-ready manuscript.

  • Style Sheet

    A personalized reference sheet that documents consistent choices in spelling, grammar, formatting, and stylistic preferences to keep your manuscript coherent and aligned.

  • Author Success Roadmap

    A personalized guide that synthesizes everything we’ve worked on, giving you clear milestones, strategies, and next steps to keep your book moving toward completion.

Let's Chat ABout Copy Editing

I’m Rebecca, an editor, coach, and your personal publishing consultant

About

The publishing world has a reputation for being exclusive.

But here, you and your book are welcome, and I want to hear your story.

I’ve worked on everything from New York Times and USA Today bestsellers and Indie Next picks to self-published debut novels. I’ve worked with authors who have a lot of letters after their names, attended the most prestigious schools in the world, and have a lot of famous friends. But I’ve also helped people who take money out of their retirement to follow their dreams and write a book.

I’m so proud of all the corners of the publishing world I get to play in. No book is more important to me than another. What matters most to me is in the end, it feels like you. I’m so proud to have helped hundreds of authors elevate their voices and amplify their messages. This work is more important now than ever.

Are you ready to get started?

Success Stories

  • “Rebecca went beyond the call of duty. She spent time mapping the story, developing a glossary. Above all else, her edits and suggestions brought more profound understanding of my characters. So grateful to her.”

    Lori Keesey, award-winning author of Always Think of Me and Second Chance Highway

  • “To my editor and writing coach, Rebecca Andersen, there are not enough thank yous on the planet to tell you how much I appreciate you. Your help, suggestions, ability to organize my chaotic thoughts, editing, and encouragement are next level. This book would not have been written without you.”

    Erin Stafford, high-performance strategist, Cambridge social psychologist, and best-selling author of The Type A Trap

  • “You are far beyond ‘my editor.’ You are a gift from God. You are my thought partner, the ying to my yang. When I look back on the first chapters vs. this final manuscript, I feel the depth and the transformation that has taken place, and, because of you, this book blossomed into more than I could have done on my own.”

    Carolina Migliaccio, brand strategist, founder of Soulful Moxie, author of Emotional Bondage

How Copy Editing Works

  • We start with a thirty-minute discovery call where we can get to know each other and discuss your goals. I’ll gather details about where you’re at in the writing or brainstorming process, when you’d like to publish, and other nitty-gritty details.

    After this call, we’ll establish a schedule for our coaching calls that will support your progress. This call does not count toward the coaching calls listed in each coaching tier.

  • I perform an intensive copy edit of your work and deliver a polished manuscript via Word document with tracked changes and in-line suggestions, refining grammar, syntax, clarity, and style. I focus on:

    • Grammar, punctuation, and spelling

    • Syntax and sentence flow

    • Clarity, readability, and conciseness

    • Consistency in tense, voice, and perspective

    • Industry-standard style guide adherence (AP, Chicago, or custom)

    • Structural attention to paragraphs, headings, lists, and transitions

    • Flagging inconsistencies, repetitions, and unclear phrasing

  • I prepare a personalized style sheet for your project. Style sheets are a common practice in publishing and are used as tracking and communication tools within publishing workflows. The style sheet records details such as:

    • Spelling, hyphenation, and capitalization choices

    • Punctuation preferences

    • Grammar and syntax decisions

    • Consistent formatting for headings, subheads, and lists

    • Stylistic choices for readability, flow, and audience alignment

  • At the end of your editing package, you’ll receive an author success roadmap compiled specifically for you.

    I share best practices and guidance on how the author can navigate things like contacting agents, querying publishers, investigating self-publishing, contacting internal or cover artists—pretty much everything involved in getting your book into readers hands.

Request a Quote

Please fill out this form, and I can return a free quote and provide additional insights on my approach.

QUESTIONS andANSWERS

  • Copy Editing provides a meticulous, line-by-line review of your manuscript. This includes grammar, syntax, punctuation, sentence structure, and clarity, as well as consistency in spelling, capitalization, hyphenation, and terminology.

    I also check for tone, readability, flow, dialogue or narrative coherence, adherence to industry-standard style guides, factual accuracy (for nonfiction), and formatting consistency. Every manuscript is accompanied by a custom style sheet, so you have a clear record of decisions and can maintain consistency throughout your work.

  • Yes, you’ll receive a fully edited manuscript with tracked changes and detailed queries or suggestions. You retain full control over what edits to accept, ensuring your voice stays intact.

  • For standard industry-length manuscripts, pricing typically ranges from $1,500–$3,600, depending on manuscript length and complexity. Submit your manuscript to receive a personalized quote tailored to your project.

  • Copy editing focuses on clarity, flow, and technical accuracy rather than major structural or developmental changes. For larger content issues, a developmental edit is recommended, but minor structural adjustments are noted for your consideration.

  • Turnaround depends on manuscript length and complexity, but most standard-length books are completed in a few weeks. You’ll receive a polished manuscript ready for submission or self-publishing.

  • While software or general editors can catch basic errors, an industry-experienced copy editor identifies underlying issues that affect readability, tone, and audience engagement. This ensures your manuscript meets professional standards. Automated editors also run the risk of providing writing suggestions that will remove your unique voice from your book.

  • Copy editing ensures your manuscript is polished, professional, and free of technical errors, making it submission- or publication-ready—especially if you’ve spent considerable time reviewing or revising the project before this step. While it doesn’t address major structural changes, most authors find their manuscript is ready for the next step in publishing after this detailed, line-by-line review.

  • You can review all edits, queries, and notes to finalize your manuscript. Many authors use the copy-edited version as their final submission-ready draft, confident it meets industry expectations. I am also available for a follow-up call or email to discuss any questions you may have about the edits.